In this post we take a look at some nice language comparing two crash landings in which all passengers and crew survived! (full news story here). Continue reading
signals
Seeing clearly in IELTS Task 1
It is clearly seen that unemployment fell gradually throughout the period.
This is like a supermarket putting a sign next to some peanuts saying “This product contains peanuts.” Continue reading
Contrasting while and meanwhile for contrast
The amount of time children spent watching TV remained stable, meanwhile the amount of time they spent using computers increased dramatically.
In this post we contrast while and meanwhile in terms of grammatical usage and their usefulness as contrast signals.
The art of which?
The arts perhaps bring balance and harmony which the arts are not just what you see but what you make others see.
This is potentially sophisticated. You need:
- The arts perhaps bring balance and harmony in which the arts are not just what you see but what you make others see.
OK, so what’s happening here? Well we have..
| independent clause | in which | independent clause |
| The arts perhaps bring balance and harmony | in which | the arts are not just what you see but what you make others see. |
But notice that the second independent clause describes the thing mentioned in the rheme of the first independent clause (balance and harmony).
Actually you can also use according to which:
- The arts perhaps bring balance and harmony according to which the arts are not just what you see but what you make others see.
Hmm OK so let me see if I can create my own example following the same 3 elements. (Just let me roll up my sleeves. Ahem.) OK here goes..
- Language acquisition is a gradual process in which students struggle to master the grammatical and phonological rules of a new language.
- Language acquisition is a gradual process according to which students struggle to master the grammatical and phonological rules of a new language.
Notice that in each of these examples which is followed by an independent clause!
OK. Now your turn! Comments below this post, please!
Opinion in IELTS Task 2 Introductions
Some people argue that taking a year break causes hesitation to continue study permanently. However, many people claim that taking a gap year between finishing high school and starting university studies is beneficial.
If you want a good score for Task Response in IELTS writing (see public band descriptors) then you need to make sure your opinion is clear in every paragraph – including your introduction. Continue reading
Global warming cause effect
Climate change is a depressing topic, but it provides us with a rich source of cause effect language that we can borrow and use in our IELTS speaking and writing.
Some world leaders continue to deny that human activity is to blame for global warming, but the following text argues that humans are in fact largely responsible.
The text features some quite sophisticated cause effect signals. Try the gapfill and be sure to review alternative answers mentioned in the answer key (available after submitting answers). Continue reading
‘Compared to’ instead of ‘rather than’
Cities offer larger salaries to people rather than small towns.
Here the comparison is between ‘salaries’ and ‘small towns’. The writer is saying that cities offer people large salaries and do not offer them small towns. Hmm. I would be quite happy if someone gave me a small town!
If we want to compare the salaries offered by cities with the salaries offered by small towns, then we need:
- Cities offer larger salaries compared to small towns.
(= salaries in cities vs. salaries in small towns)
And if you really must use rather than, then you could also write:
- Cities offer larger salaries rather than smaller salaries.
(= larger salaries vs. smaller salaries)
Most of the time instead of is synonymous with rather than:
- Cities offer larger salaries instead of smaller salaries.
However, instead of is quite often a replacement for something that came before:
- City companies now use electronic transfer instead of cash payment for salaries.
Next time make sure you’re comparing what you mean to compare!
As much uncountable as possible!
These days gadgets do not consume power as much as they used to.
This should read:
- These days gadgets do not consume as much power as they used to.
Actually there are three grammar issues we need to consider here:
- as..as with verbs
- as..as with uncountable and plural count nouns
- as..as with singular count nouns
Before we examine these separately, here is a text to illustrate all three:
Life is so unfair. My friend can eat and drink as much as he likes and not get fat. He eats as many Big Macs as I eat. He drinks as much beer as I drink. However, he does not have as large a stomach as I have!
1. as..as with verbs
You have seen phrases like as much as, as far as, as long as, as fast as, etc. These phrases are used when far, long, fast behave as adverbs:
- He can eat and drink as much as he likes. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the verbs ‘eat’ and ‘drink’)
- I drinks as much as he likes. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the verb ‘drink’)
- etc.
2. as..as with uncountable and plural count nouns
When far, long, fast, etc. behave as adjectives, then you need to change the word order:
- He eats as many Big Macs as I eat. (‘many’ affects the meaning of the noun ‘Big Macs’)
- He drinks as much beer as I drink. (‘much’ affects the meaning of the noun ‘beer’)
- etc.
Notice that when you’re focusing on nouns, your only options are much (for uncountable nouns) and many (for plural countable nouns)!
Indonesians need to be careful here because in Bahasa Indonesia the uncountable noun is positioned before ‘as much as’, for example “Kalau anjing anda keracunan, kasih dia air kelapa sebanyak mungkin!”
3. as..as with singular count nouns
This can be difficult to translate into English if your first language does not have countable and uncountable nouns.
- He does not have as large a stomach as I have.
- I have joined a fitness centre and soon I will have as small a stomach as he has.
Notice the singular countable noun always has the article ‘a‘! Notice also that you are no longer restricted to many and much. Any adjective can be used!
Again, Indonesians need to be careful because in Bahasa Indonesia the singular count noun is positioned before ‘as much as‘, for example “Nanti kalau saya punya uang saya mau bikin rumah sebesar mungkin!”
Such as this and that
There are many factors that can contribute to failure such as students do not manage their time well, or they are just lazy.
In this example, such as is followed by independent clauses whereas it should be followed by noun phrases:
- There are many factors that can cause students to fail such as bad time management, or just laziness.
If you really want verb phrases, then use for example:
- There are many factors that can contribute to failure, for example students do not manage their time well, or they are just lazy.
(Remember to put a comma before for example!)
Notice that for example is a more flexible signal as it can be used to introduce either a noun or a verb phrase. In the next example it is used to introduce nouns.
- There are many factors that can contribute to failure, for example financial pressure and physical injury.